Skoda Superb 280, remapped, two weeks later, turbo blown
Discussion
I've got a 2018 Skoda Superb 280, 20,000 mile on the clock.
A couple of weeks ago I had it remapped by a local VAG specialist, chosen because they're right near where I live. Car was remapped to 343BHP and 460NM of torque.
Driving today, put my foot down, lost power and loads of smoke bellowing out of the rear.
When I got the remap done, the guy did say that IS38 turbo is a weak link.
I've spoke to the guy today, he says I'm unlucky and must have a really weak turbo, and has provided a cost of £750 + labour to fix.
To check out his story, I've spoke to another remap company. When I've told them my story, their first question was, was the remap done by XYZ, and of course it was. They've said it's common for his remaps to blow turbo's as he uses a standard map. Obviously, I'm going to arrange for the car to be picked up and taken to a different place to have a new turbo fitted and a new map put on.
I think I know that the answer to this question is no, but, do I have any comeback with the original place? It was a bad decision on my part to use this particular place when I've had issues with them in the past, so I'll chalk some of this down to bad decision making, but even if I could get some of the original remap cost back I'd be a little happier.
A couple of weeks ago I had it remapped by a local VAG specialist, chosen because they're right near where I live. Car was remapped to 343BHP and 460NM of torque.
Driving today, put my foot down, lost power and loads of smoke bellowing out of the rear.
When I got the remap done, the guy did say that IS38 turbo is a weak link.
I've spoke to the guy today, he says I'm unlucky and must have a really weak turbo, and has provided a cost of £750 + labour to fix.
To check out his story, I've spoke to another remap company. When I've told them my story, their first question was, was the remap done by XYZ, and of course it was. They've said it's common for his remaps to blow turbo's as he uses a standard map. Obviously, I'm going to arrange for the car to be picked up and taken to a different place to have a new turbo fitted and a new map put on.
I think I know that the answer to this question is no, but, do I have any comeback with the original place? It was a bad decision on my part to use this particular place when I've had issues with them in the past, so I'll chalk some of this down to bad decision making, but even if I could get some of the original remap cost back I'd be a little happier.
flashbang said:
There's an old saying in the world of car modifying... "You pay to play". The only thing you can really do is get an engineers report and go from there but you'd be clutching at straws really.
More or less as I thought really.I guess if I could get the other place to confirm there's a problem with his map, I might be able to do something.
Replacing the turbo is fair enough, it's the joys of doing these sorts of things, but it's the cost of having to pay for a 2nd remap that I can't stomach!
Sadly I don't think you've not got a leg to stand on in terms of come back.
But, surely regardless of who it was mapped by, any map which is able to extracts an additional 20%+ power from an engine will ultimately a fairly hefty increase in fuelling and boost pressure beyond factory settings, hence making the turbo work much harder?
Will you be replacing the turbo on a like for like basis?
But, surely regardless of who it was mapped by, any map which is able to extracts an additional 20%+ power from an engine will ultimately a fairly hefty increase in fuelling and boost pressure beyond factory settings, hence making the turbo work much harder?
Will you be replacing the turbo on a like for like basis?
MattyD803 said:
Sadly I don't think you've not got a leg to stand on in terms of come back.
But, surely regardless of who it was mapped by, any map which is able to extracts an additional 20%+ power from an engine will ultimately a fairly hefty increase in fuelling and boost pressure beyond factory settings, hence making the turbo work much harder?
Will you be replacing the turbo on a like for like basis?
I'm expecting to replace the turbo with something uprated.But, surely regardless of who it was mapped by, any map which is able to extracts an additional 20%+ power from an engine will ultimately a fairly hefty increase in fuelling and boost pressure beyond factory settings, hence making the turbo work much harder?
Will you be replacing the turbo on a like for like basis?
From my understanding, a boost pressure of 1.6 bar is within the capabilities of the OEM turbo, hence why most stage 1 tunes on this engine use it. I'm just going off what I read though so I'm happy to be corrected.
I've got one remap place telling me that the turbo is weak and can go, to another telling me that it's rubbish, they're not weak and that they're regularly hear stories of turbos going after XYZ remaps have remapped a car.
Not sure what to believe really.
Either way, it needs fixing, I'm just kicking myself because my gut feeling said not to use this place... but I did.
TheBinarySheep said:
I'm expecting to replace the turbo with something uprated.
From my understanding, a boost pressure of 1.6 bar is within the capabilities of the OEM turbo, hence why most stage 1 tunes on this engine use it. I'm just going off what I read though so I'm happy to be corrected.
It may be a 'within limits' boost pressure but that isn't the same as it being 100% guaranteed not to blow up. It's not like at 1.6 bar it's hunky dory and at 1.7 bar it's a grenadeFrom my understanding, a boost pressure of 1.6 bar is within the capabilities of the OEM turbo, hence why most stage 1 tunes on this engine use it. I'm just going off what I read though so I'm happy to be corrected.
Early batches of the EA888 turbo's had balancing issues, so are prone to failure. However you have a 2018 car so you would have thought it would be ok.
However..
I have a Cupra 280 with a new turbo fitted 16 months ago - it failed - no tune. It was then replaced with another which failed after.... wait for it..... 2 miles... still no tune
I think luck of the draw applies.
However..
I have a Cupra 280 with a new turbo fitted 16 months ago - it failed - no tune. It was then replaced with another which failed after.... wait for it..... 2 miles... still no tune
I think luck of the draw applies.
Asking a tuner to comment on another tuner's work is like having any trade in to look at someone else's work, they all suck their teeth and call the last person to touch it a cowboy.
Nothing wrong with a "standard map" as long as it's conservative enough to leave some margin and doesn't strip out all the safety features. Plenty of stories of custom maps blowing up cars too.
I would say you've been very unlucky indeed, that's a very tuneable engine.
Nothing wrong with a "standard map" as long as it's conservative enough to leave some margin and doesn't strip out all the safety features. Plenty of stories of custom maps blowing up cars too.
I would say you've been very unlucky indeed, that's a very tuneable engine.
Did you buy the car new? If not, then assuming a 2018 plate car is still in warranty take it to your local VAG dealer and see how far you get. You have nothing to lose.
Even if you did buy it new you can still do this, but will make it harder to claim no knowledge should they question if it has a map
Even if you did buy it new you can still do this, but will make it harder to claim no knowledge should they question if it has a map
charltjr said:
Asking a tuner to comment on another tuner's work is like having any trade in to look at someone else's work, they all suck their teeth and call the last person to touch it a cowboy.
The fun part is when you tell them that they did the work, 3 months ago 
The last one was okay about it and fixed the issue (it was only a cross-threaded sump plug), but he had to re-tap it.
charltjr said:
Asking a tuner to comment on another tuner's work is like having any trade in to look at someone else's work, they all suck their teeth and call the last person to touch it a cowboy.
Nothing wrong with a "standard map" as long as it's conservative enough to leave some margin and doesn't strip out all the safety features. Plenty of stories of custom maps blowing up cars too.
I would say you've been very unlucky indeed, that's a very tuneable engine.
My thoughts too!Nothing wrong with a "standard map" as long as it's conservative enough to leave some margin and doesn't strip out all the safety features. Plenty of stories of custom maps blowing up cars too.
I would say you've been very unlucky indeed, that's a very tuneable engine.
thiscocks said:
A turbo that is asked to provide more boost than it was designed for. 
Always amuses me when tuners point out weak links in engines which arn't designed for a certain increase in power. The weak link is the tuner.
If the Turbo was known by the Tuner to be weak link, when an extra 200 quid could have taken it off and checked it, yet still remapped it.Always amuses me when tuners point out weak links in engines which arn't designed for a certain increase in power. The weak link is the tuner.
I would say the only weak link here is the remapped. It was most likely a generic map, with no proper rolling road or diagnostics.
TheBinarySheep said:
I guess if I could get the other place to confirm there's a problem with his map, I might be able to do something.
They'll never go to bat for you. Even if they would, I doubt you'd get far. Even an engineer's report will state the obvious in saying that the remap carries a risk if turbo failure. Of course, you would have known this when you took the remap. What exactly has gone wrong with the turbo?
The Spruce Goose said:
If the Turbo was known by the Tuner to be weak link, when an extra 200 quid could have taken it off and checked it, yet still remapped it.
I would say the only weak link here is the remapped. It was most likely a generic map, with no proper rolling road or diagnostics.
My understanding is, that it was generic map, but the place does have a dyno so I don't know if they also make adjustments to the standard map.I would say the only weak link here is the remapped. It was most likely a generic map, with no proper rolling road or diagnostics.
Don Roque said:
They'll never go to bat for you. Even if they would, I doubt you'd get far. Even an engineer's report will state the obvious in saying that the remap carries a risk if turbo failure. Of course, you would have known this when you took the remap.
What exactly has gone wrong with the turbo?
I'm going to say the seals have done given the amount of smoke coming out of the back of the car, but in all honesty, I don't know. I'm hoping that the damage is limited to just the turbo and not the engine.What exactly has gone wrong with the turbo?
Another thing that puzzles me too, is that this map was a conservative map at 343bhp. Some stage 1 tunes are managing 360-370bhp.
Edited by TheBinarySheep on Wednesday 18th November 18:32
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